Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan Read online

  “I told you we should have used the metal shackles,” the other moaned.

  “Shut up,” it replied disgruntled, as they headed back into the trees.

  Three - The City of Malgar

  As they emerged out of the dark forest the thick white fog of the early morning dawn was just beginning to clear. His cold hands bound by shackles jangled as he pulled his torn cloak tightly around himself desperate for some warmth, his breath visible in the coolness of the air. Pausing as the weariness flooded through him he thought he would collapse in total exhaustion. They had been walking for days and he was still badly shaken from the blow he had received earlier when he had tried to escape them, hence he was now bound with the harsh metal shackles that cut into his wrists.

  Ahead of them and to the right was a small mountain range, its tips dusted with winter’s first snow. It stretched; he believed judging by the current position of the sun, to the north. There was a steep cliff face rising high above them, with sharp rocky crags jutting out. Loose rocks and boulders lay scattered along the ground in front of them, entwined with twisted brambles and dense shrubbery all of which had been lightly kissed by a covering of sparkling white frost. As his eyes scoured his surroundings he could see what looked to him like a narrow pathway leading up the edge of the rocks and along the cliff face. Having never travelled through the forest so far in this direction before he was completely lost as to where they were or where they were heading.

  “Move yourself we’re here,” the creature sneered, pulling hard on the long chain that was attached to Kainan’s shackles ensuring that he had no way of escape. Lurching forward with the sudden force Kainan pulled his hands back sharply, his eyebrows narrowing into a deep set frown he scowled angrily at the creature.

  They stopped in a small clearing set amongst boulders and debris that had fallen from the cliffs above. Following the direction of the creature’s long bony finger he looked up to the edge of the cliff as it pointed towards a small entrance to a cavern which was just about becoming visible through the fog. His body twitched as he felt a sudden shiver of fear run down his spine.

  They had been travelling for what he believed to be three or four days, but he was not entirely sure as he had lost all track of time. He had tried to escape, but to no avail. Re-captured he was beaten for his trouble and still bore the wounds to his face, his left eye blackened with bruising. His captors called themselves Gorzars and they were pure and utter evil as far as he was concerned. They were vile creatures and stunk of rotten decaying flesh; in fact he had thought, they stunk of death itself and he hated them with a vengeance.

  The creatures had stripped him of everything; his back-pack, bow and arrows and the hunting knife John had given him for his birthday. All he now had left in the world were the clothes on his back. For three torturous nights he had watched as they had feasted on flesh, human or otherwise, they sickened him. He was weak and tired and had not really eaten for days. The creatures had offered him food but he had refused it, taking only water from them. How would he have known whether it was animal or human? They were monsters. Thankfully as he was being dragged through the harsh terrain of the forest he had managed to grab and eat some wild berries and mushrooms, giving him just about enough sustenance to keep him on his feet.

  The largest of the Gorzars by the name of Hadzor turned around and sauntered back stopping in front of him. Kainan looked up and trembled, for even though he was a good six foot in stature the Gorzar still towered above him. Lifting his arm Hadzor placed his bony hand and sharp long dirty nails upon the young man’s head slowly twisting it round in the direction of a cavern nestling in the rock face.

  “Up there is the cavern, the one we have been telling you about,” he snarled. His voice was deep and droning and drool oozed out of his foul smelling mouth. Swallowing Kainan tried not to show his fear. These creatures had raided his village, killed his poor defenceless brothers, murdered everyone and then burned it to the ground until nothing remained but cinders and ashes. Added to this his mother was missing and he didn’t know if she was alive or if these creatures had killed her, they would not tell him. Now two of these creatures had brought him here as their prisoner and he was both terrified beyond belief and enraged with the need for revenge.

  “It’s time for you to go back to your home-world,” he said mockingly. Kainan’s blood boiled but he knew at the moment he was powerless to do anything about it. He had been knocked unconscious as soon as he had attacked them back at his village and when he had come around he found the Gorzars had taken him deep into the forest. He wasn’t even sure whether it was the same day as he was not sure how long he had been unconscious. He didn’t recognise any of the forest that they were travelling through and as he knew the Oakhurst forest like the back of his hand it led him to believe that he must have been out for quite some time. When they stopped to make camp they had tied him securely to a tree. Kainan had spent each night in desperate fear of his life; having to watch them gorging on their latest kill. He was cold and hungry and pure exhaustion overwhelmed him. Each day was spent walking relentlessly through the forest without a word being spoken to him, without reason as to why they had captured him and destroyed his entire village.

  Then on their third night the Gorzars had dragged him over to the fire. Kainan had begged for a quick death, thinking that he was to be their next meal. They had laughed at him before finally telling him the reason for his capture. The story they told him was outrageous and he refused to believe them. They told him that he was not a Zyonier from the village of Oakhurst but a Groundling stolen at birth by his real mother’s nurse. He had been taken from his home-world a place they called Malgar, which was according to them, a completely different world from the one they were on. She had taken him through a magical portal and brought him to Zyon where he was to be raised as her own son until the time came when the Gorzars needed him.

  They told him that the woman he had known all his life was not his real mother. His head had spun when they told him, it was a lie, it had to be! How could she not be his real mother? Even now after a day of trying to understand what they had said to him he was still in shock, refusing to believe them. What did this all mean, what was the purpose of these lies? These animals had torn his life apart literarily.

  Hadzor suddenly grabbed Kainan by his shoulders snatching him out of his thoughts. He leaned in towards him; so close that his contorted face was almost touching him. Kainan flinched, turning his face away from the appalling stench of the Gorzar’s vile hot breath upon him.

  Placing one hand around the young man’s neck and grasping it tight his long finger nails dug in deep until the back of his neck began to bleed. Kainan groaned as a sharp pain suddenly tore through him. With his other hand the Gorzar took a length of his long dark hair and slowly began twisting it around his finger. Raising him up off the ground the Gorzar sneered menacingly, bearing his sharp fangs like a wild animal. Choking Kainan began grasping desperately at the creature’s hand trying to release its grip from around his throat, his feet rising off the ground he stood on the tips of his toes wheezing as he gasped frantic for air.

  The Gorzar looked at him, and as he stared back the evil in his eyes chilled Kainan to the bone.

  “You must do as we have told you do you understand? You will go through the portal to Malgar and find your way to the Triple Dome. From there you will steal the Ardor Crystal and bring it back here to me,” he growled, shaking him fiercely and ensuring that he understood his every word. Releasing him he pushed him aside.

  Losing his balance the young man fell backwards to the ground, he drew a sharp breath as the wind was knocked out of him. Rubbing his bound hands across his throat he felt a sudden wave of nausea sweep through him as grief and depression overwhelmed him. Staring hard at the Gorzar he cursed.

  “Why should I do anything for you, you evil bastard, you killed my entire family. Why the hell should I care what happens to me?” Choking back his tears, he screamed, hi
s hands clutching at the earth. “I have nothing left!” His face was fraught and his heart and will to live broken.

  Looking down at him the Gorzar growled back.

  “We have planned this for twenty one years. You will do as I say or if you refuse….” He glared at him, Kainan shivered as once again he felt the evil in the creature’s eyes penetrate right through his entire being. Turning around sharply the Gorzar facing the edge of the forest took in a deep breath and yelled.

  “Bring her out!” Then from the shadows of the trees Kainan saw movement and then the female Gorzar emerged. He cursed under his breath as he had hoped she was dead. He could see she had someone with her; it was a woman. The Gorzar came nearer dragging the poor woman across the ground behind her, he could see that her hands were bound behind her back, her clothes were torn and dirty, her face cut and bruised from being beaten and a rope hung around her delicate neck.

  “Mother!” Kainan cried aloud with sudden realisation, jumping to his feet. She was still alive! His heart raced with relief at the sight of her. The female Gorzar continued dragging her towards them and then stopping a couple of feet in front of them she released her grip, shoving his mother to the ground. Frail and worn she cried out as she hit the floor hard. Kainan lurched forward frantically he wanted to get to her but the Gorzar’s hand immediately flew up grabbing hold of him, yanking him harshly backwards. Kainan scowled fiercely at him, his eyes were full of anger and hate.

  With what little life was left in her his mother raised her head towards her son, the tears streaming from her blackened eyes left streaks down her dirty blood stained face.

  “Kainan I’m so sorry, I love you…you… will always be my son,” she cried, taking a breath. “Please forgive me, leave me…, go... You must save yourself,” she begged feebly. Then her head no longer having the strength to hold itself up dropped wearily to her chest. It was all too much for him seeing her like that, beaten and near to death. He screamed at the Gorzar.

  “Don’t hurt her, leave her alone!” The rage inside of him was uncontrollable. He shook his head furiously at her. “I will not leave you to die, I will not!” His eyes were desperate, a crushing wave of helplessness swept through him as he looked at her lying battered and beaten on the ground, he could not lose her too. Elira the female Gorzar pulled the rope tighter around her neck and his mother cried as the rope choked her.

  “NO!” Kainan screamed at her, rushing forward urgently. “Stop it!” Grabbing hold of him again, this time by the shackles that bound his wrists, Hadzor began dragging him towards her. Kainan groaned as the harsh metal of his restraint cut into his flesh and blood began running down his wrists and into the palms of his hands. Stopping abruptly Hadzor stood over his mother as she lay sprawled on the ground.

  “You are a foolish woman Marianna all of this could have been avoided if you just handed him over and kept to the plan, he’s not even your child,” he growled sarcastically at her. “I hope he was worth it,” he added, sneering down at her.

  Flinching at his words Kainan shot a desperate glance down at his mother, willing her to tell him it was not true. Squinting through the narrow slits of her puffed blackened eyes she opened them just a little and looked up at him.

  “Kainan you will always be my son, my Prince,” she glared furiously at the Gorzar. “You will never take that away from me and you will never succeed. He will stop all of you….” she coughed, struggling breathless. Her son watched helplessly as she closed her eyes, as her energy began to fail her and she lay on the ground semi-conscious. He wanted to help her but what could he do? His head jerked around suddenly as the Gorzar began yelling angrily at her.

  “You insolent bitch, you are only alive because we need him. You betrayed us, you betrayed the master. You want to think yourself lucky that you may have a second chance!” He turned to Kainan, his patience now at an end.

  “Here take this,” he ordered, pulling out a large sack from beneath his cloak and thrusting it hard into his chest. Gasping for air as the force took his breath away; the young man looked at him with hatred in his eyes wishing that he had his sword, what he would not give to be able to plunge it through the heart of this ugly creature.

  Pulling out a key from his pocket the creature undid the shackles binding him and then discarded them on the ground. Wiping his blood-soaked palms down his cloak he began rubbing his wrists; they were bloody red and extremely sore.

  “Make sure you put the Ardor Crystal in the sack just as we told you; but remember, she is only alive because of you. If you fail me...” He turned towards Elira nodding at her. She slowly licked her lips her eyes were wide with the anticipation. Kainan recoiled in horror. It made him feel sick to the pit of his stomach the thought of leaving her with them, but he knew he had no choice. He was just thankful she was still alive. Even if there was only a small glimmer of hope that he would be able to save her, he would do what they wanted.

  Tucking the sack under his cloak he glanced back towards his mother. She lay exhausted on the ground trying hard to squint through her swollen eyes at her beloved son; she managed a weak smile at him. Nodding he smiled sadly back at her. He desperately wanted her to make it, he didn’t want this to be the last time he ever saw her. Swallowing the lump in his throat he knew there was nothing else he could do, he had to trust that they would not kill her.

  He turned to Hadzor.

  “I will get what you want but if you hurt her I swear I will kill you!” Kainan snarled, his stare was hard and intense and he meant every word, then looking across at the other two he added. “All of you.”

  Hadzor laughed.

  “I’d like to see you try. Now get going, and do not fail or have no doubt she will die.”

  Kainan began the climb up to the cavern. The path was narrow and stony but not difficult, yet it took every bit of his nerve to make himself take another step. His mother’s life depended on him fulfilling this task and it filled him with absolute dread. He could not let her die she was all he had left. What was waiting for him through that cavern, he had no idea. How could he believe what they had told him? How could there be another world?

  He stood before the opening and was just about to enter when he hesitated. Had his whole life really been a lie? Turning he looked back down to the clearing and a look of pain crossed his face. Elira held his mother by the rope, tied around her throat like an animal waiting for slaughter. He shook his head unable to comprehend. How could she not be his real mother? He knew he was different from his brothers he had always felt different, felt there was a purpose to his life, a destiny to fulfil. His brothers had often laughed at him saying he was no more than a huntsman, albeit a good one and the only destiny he had was with the deer in the forest. His face contorted with grief, his brothers murdered in front of him and there was nothing he could have done to save them. He gazed out towards the mountains in the distance, rubbing his brow; he had one hell of a headache.

  Conscious that he was being watched, he turned his attention back down towards the Gorzars. They were staring up at him watching him, making sure he was doing their bidding. Elira pulled the rope tighter just to be sure he knew what would happen if he didn’t return. If they wanted this Crystal then he would get it for them, he had already lost too much and too many people had died.

  Turning around he entered the cavern. He shivered, it was dark and it was cold. Taking a cautious step forward his brow creased in a frown as his eyes tried to adjust to the darkness. There to his right was a torch hanging on the side of the cavern wall. He touched it, thankfully it was dry. Rummaging deep within the inside pocket of his cloak he grinned as he pulled out a flint and steel, the creatures had not taken everything after all; and after a few attempts managed to light the torch.

  As the cavern lit up with a fiery glow a large stone oval-shaped gateway came into view; it was the portal to Malgar another world and according to the Gorzars the world where he was really from. The whole idea seemed ridiculous to him, how could there
be another world? It had to be some kind of trap; they were playing games with him.

  He stepped forward nervously. On the front of the gate on the left hand side he could see there was a large stone tablet and on top an imprint in the shape of a left hand. Looking closer he could see in the centre of the palm was an image embossed onto it. He stared at the dial then looked down at the palm of his left hand and frowned. It was the same symbol that had appeared on his palm on the morning of his 21st birthday. It was in the shape of a raised pentagram set within a two-rimmed circle. Nobody could explain what it was and as he thought back to that morning he remembered the look on his mother’s face he had not twigged it at the time, but now as he thought about it, it was the look of fear. Had she known what it was? He swallowed; he really didn’t want to believe she was not his mother. Then shaking his head he dismissed it. No there had to be some other explanation.

  Running his fingers across the raised etching he felt strange; some part of him seemed to instinctively know what he was supposed to do and that puzzled him. Opening his left hand tentatively he placed his palm facing down hovering over the symbol. Standing for a moment tense and undecided his hand trembled. He really didn’t know if he could do this. Then as he thought of the fate that awaited his mother if he didn’t go through with it, he sighed. He really had no choice. Placing his hand down onto the symbol he made contact and there came an intense blinding light.

  Closing his eyes he held his breath as a strong gust of wind whipped all around him and swirling around the cavern it blew out the torch on the wall. The gate whirled into action. Opening his eyes at the sudden booming noise he stared in disbelief, his heart pounding full of fear; a great mass of black and green energy was swirling in front of him. He was terrified beyond words but he knew what he had to do. Taking a deep breath he stepped into the portal.